Bullet weight for 6.5 long range rifle

[260 rem]

I am building a long range rifle in 6.5x68 what is the best bullet weight for long range shooting light or heavy.
I am looking at starting out with Hornady Amax 120gn or 140 grain will also be looking at Berger bullets later on.
with the 120 gn I will be looking at 3300fps and with the 140 gn 3000fps
so what is better heavy or light

 

[Gene]

What the heck is a 6.5x68?? What twist in the barrel?

 

[JARHEAD1371]

Heavy bullets in a given caliber will always have a higher BC, given the same type of design. The higher the BC, the less effect wind and gravity have on the bullet.

 

[Greyfox]

I'm not familiar with the 6.5x68 but do a lot of shooting with both the 260Rem and the 6.5x284. At 3000 FPS with a 140 gr. bullet, it sounds like the cartridge is similar in capacity to a 6.5x284 and 6.5x06. Depending on what you define as long range, the 140gr is clearly the bullet of choice if you go out to 1000 yards or so. Even with the 10% increase in velocity of the 120 gr bullet, you will lose ballistic performance at long range. I have found that the 140's give excellent terminal performance on game at both short and long range. Can you give some info about the 6.5x68?

 

[6.5Express]

I'm with the two previous posts. If your barrel won't stabilize the 140's, you might look at the 130 berger (still a relatively high BC) or maybe even something like the 123 A Max.

Maybe some additional information on the cartridge and barrel would help us out some.

 

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

I would think you could do better than 3000fps with a 140g VLD out of that case. I can push a 140g VLD out of my 260 rem at 2950fps. The case you mentioned is longer than a 30-06 case. So I think we are looking at 6.5-06AI speeds.

 

[Greyfox]

I would think you could do better than 3000fps with a 140g VLD out of that case. I can push a 140g VLD out of my 260 rem at 2950fps. The case you mentioned is longer than a 30-06 case. So I think we are looking at 6.5-06AI speeds.

What load/barrel length do use to get 2960 out of a 260 Rem? I have been working on mine. Hard pressed to get much more then 2825 out of my 26" barrel.

 

[ICANHITHIMMAN]

What load/barrel length do use to get 2960 out of a 260 Rem? I have been working on mine. Hard pressed to get much more then 2825 out of my 26" barrel.

27 1/2" Brux 1-8 twist, fiocci small rifle primers, H4350, Rem brass, 140g VLD

 

[LRHWAL]

The 6.5x68 is similar in performance to the .264 Win Mag.

It is a caliber that dates from the 1930's and is also known as the 6.5x68 Schuler or 8x68s. Ammo is loaded by RWS as I recall in 93gr and 127gr weights.

As far as I know the case is the same as the 8x68s.

It's like a European 6.5mm beltless magnum, or in fact that's what it is I suppose!

THe case is what is used on the Boo Boo cartridges common with some F-Class shooters at one times, particularly in the UK (I think).

7mm and .30 Boo Boo.

I've got no personal experience with it, so this is basedo n what i've read over the years.

 

[OKIE2]

264 MAG = 80.7 WATER CAP.
6.5X68 = 82.2 WATER CAP.

6.5x68mm RWS Loads Bullet Make
& Wt. (gr) Powder
Type Charge
(gr) Muzzle
Vel. (fps) K. E.
(ft-lbs) Barrel
Len. (in) Owner 87 Hodgdon H-4831
73.0M
3700
2645

View
stigma 105 Nosler Vihtavuori N-160
67.0M
3350
2617
25.5
View
stigma 120 Hodgdon H-4831
68.0M
3300
2903

View
stigma 125 Nosler Vihtavuori N-160
64.0M
3130
2720
25.5
View
stigma 140 Hodgdon H-4831
63.0M
3000
2799

View
stigma

 

[derrelw]

What load/barrel length do use to get 2960 out of a 260 Rem? I have been working on mine. Hard pressed to get much more then 2825 out of my 26" barrel.

I get over 3000fps with a .260 and 26" Bartlein 5R 1:8 twist and 123gr Amax or SMK and 43gr IMR 4350 at 6000ft above sea level

 

[Greyfox]

I get over 3000fps with a .260 and 26" Bartlein 5R 1:8 twist and 123gr Amax or SMK and 43gr IMR 4350 at 6000ft above sea level

Thanks. I'm shooting 140 gr at 350ft elevation.....that explains the difference.

 

[loaders_loft]

Grey Fox, you're on the right track, 2800 to 2825 for the140 is just about perfect on the260 with 26 barrels. About 30moa at 1k, depending on the weather and bullet choice.

 

[deathwobble]

130gr berger......h4350 in the 260